Mechanism for use in musical instruction



Patented June 30, 1931 I 1,811,865

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE ARTHUR ROGERS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MECHANISM FOR USE IN MUSICAL INSTRUCTION Application filed March 31, 1930. Serial No. 440,397.

The present invention relates to means and showing the tray is substantially long enough method of musical instruction and more parto contain three octaves, but it is to be underticularly to musical instruction in its branch stood'the invention is not restricted to any associated with the piano and harmony. particular size, shape or number of octaves.

'6 The objects of the invention are to pro- The present showing which includes three vide' a simple device within the means of octaves has been found in practice to be the usual beginner, and a device which can very convenient and to contain sufficient keys be not only carried around but is convenient for instruction in the rudiments of music, to use in association with the piano, readily harmony and piano playing. On an ordi- 10 adapted for desk use and of size adapted to nary piano there are ordinarily two varibe putaway in a school desk and otherwise eties of keys, those at the front of the keyconvenient for general and special use; to board being arranged in a common plane provide a device equally beneficent for class and referred to as the white or ivory keys. use and for individual use; to enable a stu-- Toward the back of the keyboard between 15 dent to visualize certain notes and combinacertain of the ivory keys are several kevs tion of notes to provide a device which will known as the black or ebony keys which enable the instructor to observe the results also have their upper faces in a common plane of the students work and point out errors but rise above the plane of the front or ivory while the errors are still present; to provide keys. My invention contemplates utiliza- 20 a method which will obtain permanent imtion of a similar arrangement of keys. Howpression on the student of the matter sought ever, the keys of a piano are depressible, to be taught;to secure simplicity of construcwhereas the keys of'iny invention are not tion and operation and fulfillment of the depressible, but are individually removable method and to obtain other advantages and from the tray. 1 By. virtue of this fact, any

25 results as may be brought out in the followparticular notes, combination of notes or ing description. chords can be indicated on the keyboard Referring to the accompanying drawings by the pupil by proper placement of keys 7 in which like numerals of reference indicate in the keyboard or'tray. I

, similar parts throughout the several views, A hown, I prefer to construct the whlte 30 Figure '1 is a perspective view of my dekeys in two parts. Thefront parts of these Vice showing the Same in use W h the k ys white keys, which I will term for convenience thereon arranged to Vis a ze t m j D main keys 2, are preferably all of a similar Chord ill the first Octave 1 the treble Clef; shape and size extending from the front edge Fig re 2 iS a Si l persp tiv View Y of the keyboard back to the line of the raised 35 g a PQ of the y removed and (118- or black keys, Tho e portions of the white closing the chart normally the keys which between the black keys -e prefkeys when in position; erably separate from the front portions and Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of are fixed to the tray so as not to be removable. the main removable keys often referred to Consequently, When th removable k aye as he White 01 ivory keys; and 7 all taken out of the tray there still remain Figure 4 is a similar perspective view of rear portions 3 of the whie keys properly one of the removable incidental keys often spaced to again receive black or upstandsn referred to as the black or ebony keys keys 4 in the usual relationship appearing n of the piano. a piano. Since the front portions or main In the specific embodiment of the invention keys 2 are all of the same size and shape. they illustrated in said drawings, the reference will rest in proper'relationship upon ben numeral 1 indicates a body or tray member inserted in'the front trough portion 5 of the within which are arranged keys simulating tray. y

- the keys as appear upon a piano both in In use, it is preferable to have all of the 50 size, shape and position. In the present keys in proper position in the tray while the lee student is utilizing the device so that he will have a replica, of a piano keyboard before him at all times. The instructor may orally give the student an exercise in picking out certain notes, or hie student may perform an exercise from a written or f'inted sheet or book. For convenience in holding such an exercise sheet or book, the tray provides a rear music holder or trough 6.

In order that the instructor may know what keys hare been indicated by the pupil and also enable the pupil to visualize the results aequired I preferably make the underside of the removable keys in contrast, as a t 7, to the normal uppe side of the keys. As one instance for obtaining; such contrast, I utilize keys Oi usual color on the upper sides, namely, white for the main keys and black for the up s-itanding' keys, and then make the underside of all of the remo hie keys red. ()f course, the color red i arbitrary and any other color or means may be substituted for obtaining: the contrast. The device is so constructed tact the student can turn any of the removab e keys upside down and replace them in the same place :trm which they wer taken. Consequently, when the ir ructor advises the student to illustrate the ma chord of l). the student will then remove the keys rcpre.-.e'ntingg; the notes oi": that chord and replace them upsidcdown as indicated in Figure 1.. keys will remain in position to both show the instructor exactly what the student has done and will enable the student to v sualize the chord by virtue oi the contrasting character of the keys turned over and therefore inn presses the 'esults of his work upon his mind.

After that exercise is completed it takes but a moment to turn the inverted keys back an d another exercise can be performed.

It so desired, the bottom of the tray m y contain a chart indicating); the names of keys or notes which the keys represent, normally hidden by the keys themselves. As a result, every time the studen turns over a particular key, name of the note brought to his at-.c11tion and thus enables the note .0 be learned by the stud uts constant association therewith.

The invention obviously adaptable to instruction to learn to play the piano and also to in" auction in harmony and music in gen 'al. The manufacture ot the device utilizing; a plurality of l-reys of minimum numbeis and snapes lends to economy and simplicity, and brings the device within the means of the usual beginner in music, to schools in general and to class work as well as home study. The invention has the advantage that the keys turned over by the student remain until the instructor has opportunity to see what the student has done and to point out the errors if any exist. This is important because with the ordinary piano, the student is inclined to lift his fingers when either the sound or the instructors attitude indicates the error, and the instructor then is often at a loss to show the student the exact error commit-ted. The keys on the piano are all alike when the lingers are removed, where as in the pres-tent invention the contrast re- .mains until positive action is taken to turn the keys over again. Furthermore, the studcnt given actual hand work to perform rather than a more metal conceyfi and the mental impression is strengthened by the hand work with the contrast maintained betore his eyes for a definite period.

Obviously detail changes may be made in the construction and use ot my improved device and in the steps of the utilization thereof for performing: the method of instruction. and I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact cmistruction shown except as forth in the following claims when construed in the light of the prior art.

Having thus described the invention, I claim l. A device of the character described comprising a keyboard simulating a musical instrument keyboard. and a series of removable keys of corresponding size and shape so as to be intercl'ianncable and reversible whereby certain selected keys may be .lllOVQd and reversed to contrast with remaining: keys on the keyboard.

2. A device of the character described comprising a keyboard simulating a musical instrument keyboard, and two series of remov able keys, the keys of each series being of corresponding size and shape to all other keys oi the same series so as to be interchangeable and reversible, whereby selected keys of either seriesmay be removed and reversed to contrast with remaining keys in the series.

3. A device of the character described coinprising); a tray ha vine a rim, and a plurality of emovable keys of rectangular and regular shape filling the said tray from the rim at one end thereof to the rim at the other end thereof, said keys being removable and reversible and retained in either normal or reversed position by said rim.

i. A device of the character described comprising a keyboard simulating: a musical instrument keyboard, removable keys, said keys each having the underside thereof contrasting with the upper sides of said keys and each key being}; individually removable and adapted to be inverted so as to expose the contrasted underside thereof at the upper side of the key when replaced in inverted position.

GEORGE ARTHUR ROGERS. 

